London's Open Garden Squares Weekend

Countries

UK - England

Highlights

Feed your curiosity with over 200 private, institutional, commercial and communal gardens to explore in this magical two-day event. Gardens range from the historic and traditional to the new and experimental and can be discovered across 27 London boroughs.

London’s Open Garden Squares Weekend

London’s Parks and Gardens Trust, in association with the National Trust, present Open Garden Squares Weekend 2018.

The event, which originally created access to private squares in central London, now embraces a wide range of little known and hidden green spaces across the capital.

Around 200 gardens take part in Open Garden Squares Weekend each year. There is a real variety – from the traditional private squares to contemporary roof gardens, not to mention skips, prisons, museums, schools and allotments.

We have a mix of gardens that are private, those that are not normally open at weekends and some that are open, but are hidden gems that you might not know about. Gardens that are normally open provide activities ranging from puppet shows to walks and exhibitions by friends groups. They will usually have active, dedicated community groups passionate about their local area, their garden and community.

Gardens are selected for their historical significance, design interest, community significance, horticultural interest or environmental importance.

You can enjoy a wide range of activities, including guided walks and tours, cycle rides, music, refreshments, plants sales, garden fêtes, and family activities.

Profits from ticket sales are shared between participating sites and help to support the work of the London Parks & Gardens Trust. Gardens may raise money and/or awareness for their own causes.

Indicative prices from 2017:
£13 before the event and £15 on the open weekend. The price includes a full-colour guidebook (only available with tickets), all booking, credit card and other fees.
Family ticket £40, young persons ticket £10 (12-18 years), U12 free

One ticket gives you access to all gardens on BOTH Saturday or Sunday; however, there are a select number of gardens which are accessible only on a guided tour. Places are allocated either on a first-come, first-served basis or by ballot.

Please be aware that gardens take part voluntarily and can drop out at the last minute.

At a glance:

London Parks and Gardens Trust

London Parks & Gardens Trust aims to increase knowledge and appreciation of parks, squares, community gardens, cemeteries, churchyards – all those places that form London's open space network.
Trust members – amateurs and professionals – provide and enjoy lectures, walks, day trips, children's programmes, a newsletter and journal, research and an inventory of historic green spaces.